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» What is Xylitol?
Xylitol is a low GI natural sweetener used as a sugar substitute. It gets its name from from the greek xyl meaning wood, and the suffix itol, used to denote sugar alcohols.
It can be found in the fibres of many fruits and vegetables and can also be extracted from berries, oats and mushrooms. It is about as sweet as sucrose but with only two-thirds of the food energy.
Aside from the obvious benefit of replacing that scourge of the modern diet - refined sugar - Xylitol has health benefits that go beyond what you would expect from a low calorie sweetener. It is absorbed more slowly than sugar and therefore does not contribute to high blood sugar levels or the resulting hyperglycemia caused by insufficient insulin response, making it especially suitable for diabetics.
When it comes to dental care, Xylitol contributes to the maintenance of tooth mineralisation; a long-winded way of saying it won't rot your teeth..
Please note: High consumption of Xylitol may result in a possible laxative effect. Also, unlikely as it is that you’ll feed your dog Xylitol or foods containing large amounts, it can be harmful to dogs in high doses.